If you grew up in the early 2000s, you probably spent a significant portion of your childhood wishing you lived at Pine Hollow Stables. You likely had a favorite—maybe you were a Carole, a Stevie, or a Lisa. The show was a global juggernaut, airing in over 100 countries and making household names out of a group of Australian teenagers. But here is the thing about the saddle club cast: because the show ran for three distinct seasons across nearly a decade with two entirely different sets of actors, the legacy is a bit more complicated than most people remember.
Most fans don't realize that the "Original Trio" from 2001 and the "Season 3 Trio" from 2008 rarely overlapped. It created this weird, fractured nostalgia where half the fanbase recognizes one face and the other half is totally confused.
The Original Trio: Keenan, Lara, and Sophie
Let’s talk about the era that started it all. Keenan MacWilliam, Lara Jean Marshall, and Sophie Bennett weren't just actors; they were basically the faces of horse-girl culture for a generation. Keenan, who played the soulful Carole Hanson, actually moved away from acting pretty quickly after the first two seasons wrapped. She leaned heavily into the arts and design side of things. Honestly, it’s a path a lot of child stars take when they realize the Hollywood grind isn't for them. She ended up working in production and design in Canada, far away from the horse trails of Victoria, Australia.
Then you have Lara Jean Marshall, our Stevie Lake. She was the tomboy icon. Lara stayed in the industry longer, appearing in projects like The Doctor Blake Mysteries and Any Questions for Ben?. People always ask if they’re still friends. The short answer is yes. They’ve done anniversary reunions on social media that sent fans into a total tailspin.
Sophie Bennett, who played Lisa Atwood, had perhaps the most interesting pivot. She was the "new girl" in the pilot, the one we all related to because she didn't know a girth from a bridle. Sophie moved into the music business and fashion. If you look at her career trajectory, she really embraced the "multi-hyphenate" lifestyle that’s so common now. She worked behind the scenes in the Canadian music industry, proving that the discipline learned on a film set at age 12 actually translates to the real world.
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Why the Season 3 Reboot Felt So Different
In 2008, the show came back. But it was... different. The producers decided to go with an entirely new the saddle club cast to keep the characters at that "magical" age of 12 or 13. This is where Lauren Dixon (Lisa), Ariel Kaplan (Lisa), and Victoria Campbell (Carole) stepped in.
It was a tough gig.
Imagine stepping into roles that had already been cemented in the minds of millions. Ariel Kaplan, who played Lisa in the third season, is probably the most recognizable face to modern Australian TV viewers today. She spent years on the iconic soap Neighbours as Imogen Willis. She’s a powerhouse. But for the die-hard Saddle Club purists, the transition was jarring. The tone of the show shifted; it felt slicker, more "Disney Channel" and less gritty Australian bush.
The chemistry was there, sure. But the "Old Guard" fans felt a sense of betrayal. It’s a classic TV dilemma: do you let the characters age with the actors, or do you treat the roles like James Bond? The Saddle Club chose the Bond route.
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The Heli Simpson and Kia Luby Factor
We can’t discuss the cast without mentioning the villains and the "cool girls." Heli Simpson, who played the spoiled Veronica diAngelo, was arguably the best actor on the set. She played "mean girl" with such precision that she actually launched a semi-successful music career off the back of it. Remember the song "Don't Ask Me"? It was a total earworm. Heli eventually stepped away from the limelight to pursue a career in medicine. Yes, Veronica diAngelo became a doctor. Life is funny like that.
Kia Luby, who played Kristi Cavanaugh, also stayed involved in the industry for a while but eventually shifted into the business side of entertainment and talent management.
There’s this weird phenomenon with Australian child actors. Because the industry there is so small compared to LA, they either become global superstars (like Margot Robbie or the Hemsworths) or they realize they want a "normal" life and become incredibly successful professionals in other fields. The saddle club cast is a perfect case study of the latter.
Behind the Scenes: It Wasn't Always Glamorous
The kids worked grueling hours. When you’re dealing with animals on set, everything takes three times longer. If a horse decides it doesn't want to hit its mark, the whole production shuts down. The cast often spoke about the "horse boot camps" they had to attend before filming. They weren't just pretending to ride; they had to be competent enough to handle 1,200-pound animals while remembering their lines.
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- Training: Actors spent weeks learning Western and English styles.
- Education: Tutors were on set constantly to ensure they didn't fall behind in school.
- Safety: Strict Australian labor laws for minors meant they had very specific "off" times, which often clashed with the unpredictable nature of animals.
The bond between the girls was real, though. You can't spend 14 hours a day in a stable in rural Victoria and not become close. They lived in a bubble. While other kids were going to school dances, they were mucking out stalls for the camera.
The Legacy of Pine Hollow in 2026
Why are we still talking about the saddle club cast decades later? It’s the "comfort TV" effect. The show tackled real issues—death, divorce, financial struggles—under the guise of a show about ponies. It didn't talk down to its audience.
The actors have largely stayed out of the "messy" tabloid spotlight. There are no tragic "child star gone wrong" stories here. Instead, you have a group of women who seem to look back on their time at Pine Hollow with a mix of exhaustion and genuine fondness. They’ve become doctors, producers, designers, and soap stars.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re feeling nostalgic and want to catch up with the cast, the best place isn't actually IMDb—it's Instagram. Many of the original cast members still interact with fans and occasionally post "throwback" content that gives a lot of insight into the filming process.
For those looking to rewatch the series, keep in mind that the rights are scattered. In many regions, the show pops up on streaming services like Prime Video or Tubi. Just be prepared: the special effects in the early seasons haven't aged perfectly, but the chemistry between the leads is still as sharp as ever.
Check out the official Saddle Club YouTube channel if it's still active in your region; they often host behind-the-scenes clips that weren't included in the original DVD releases. Seeing the "unpolished" versions of these actors really highlights how much work went into creating the world of Pine Hollow. No more wondering—go see for yourself how much "Stevie" has changed.